Denise Alexander, the beloved actress best known for her portrayal of Susan Hunter Martin on Days of Our Lives and Lesley Webber on General Hospital, has passed away at the age of 85, according to Soap Opera Digest. One of the most significant stars of daytime television in the 1960s and 1970s, Alexander's career spanned decades, leaving an indelible mark on the genre.
Born in New York City, Alexander began acting as a child, appearing in radio shows like I Remember Mama and Perry Mason. In 1952, she made her Broadway debut in The Children’s Hour, starring as Evelyn Munn. Four years later, at the tender age of 14, she co-starred with Sal Mineo in Crime in the Streets. Her daytime career commenced in 1960 with a role on The Clear Horizon, a short-lived CBS soap where she played Lois Adams.
Her first significant role came in 1963 when she joined the cast of Ben Jerrod, which premiered on the same day as General Hospital. Alexander made a brief appearance in General Hospital's unaired 1962 pilot episode, then took on the role of Lorna Hill in 1965. However, it was in 1966 that her career truly skyrocketed when she landed the role of Susan Martin on Days of Our Lives.
Recalling her time on Days, Alexander shared in a 2015 interview with Soap Opera Digest, “The Cordays were having a terrible time casting a young leading man when they were launching the show... They said, ‘It’s just for the summer.’ I didn’t often get cast as the bad girls and it was the Cordays, so I thought, ‘Oh, that’d be fun!’ Seven-and-a-half years later, I was still there.” Her character was pivotal in many dramatic storylines, exploring themes of love, betrayal, and tragedy.
In 1973, Alexander made the bold decision to leave Days of Our Lives to join General Hospital as Lesley Webber, a move that sent shockwaves through the soap opera community. She explained, “Bill [Bell] was in the process of creating Young and Restless. We had made an agreement of honor that Susan Martin would take a vacation... Then I got a call from ABC about coming to their show.” The offer was too good to refuse, as her former producer encouraged her to take the leap, saying, “They’re offering you four times what we can give you.”
Lesley Webber quickly became a driving force behind many major plotlines in the 1970s, especially after Douglas Marland became head writer in 1977 and Gloria Monty took over as executive producer in 1978. Her love affair with Chris Robinson’s character, Rick, and the dramatic trial that ensued when Lesley took the rap for her daughter Laura’s murder of David Hamilton were highlighted as pivotal moments in the show’s history. Soap historian Christopher Schemering noted that these storylines were “just as important as the Luke and Laura love story in bringing General Hospital to number one in the ratings.”
In 1984, Alexander’s time on General Hospital came to an abrupt end when Lesley was killed off in a car accident, leading to massive viewer outcry. Reflecting on her departure, she told Soap Opera Digest in 2013, “I then began to look at my life away from work... I wanted to create a home and a family.” Despite the drama surrounding her exit, Alexander found joy in her personal life, marrying her Days co-star Richard Colla, who passed away in 2021.
After leaving General Hospital, Alexander took on a role in another soap, Another World, from 1986 to 1989, where she reunited with former General Hospital husband Chris Robinson. In 1996, she made a surprising return to General Hospital, where it was revealed that her character Lesley was very much alive, much to the delight of fans. Alexander continued to appear on the show until 2009, returning for special episodes, including the show’s 50th anniversary in 2013.
Her last appearances as Lesley were in 2019 and 2021. Genie Francis, who played her daughter Laura, credited Alexander with helping her develop as an actor, saying, “I loved her. She loved me. I stole her good stuff.” Alexander’s influence on Francis was profound, with Francis acknowledging how Alexander imprinted her style of acting on her. “When I look at myself sometimes on television... I have been kind of taken aback because I realized I just did Denise,” she remarked.
Throughout her career, Alexander was not just a talented actress but also a beloved figure in the soap community. Her warmth and generosity left a lasting impression on her colleagues and fans alike. In her own words, she expressed gratitude for her career, stating, “What I love the most is, there hasn’t been a single time they called that I couldn’t go back... It feels like home.”
Denise Alexander's legacy will undoubtedly live on through her memorable performances and the deep connections she forged with her fans and fellow actors. Her contributions to daytime television have paved the way for future generations of actors in the genre, and her passing marks the end of an era in soap opera history.
